RE: Davidson's fixative

In a message dated 5/9/00 3:45:01 PM, Alex.Brown at Crosshouse Hospital in
Kilmarnock, Scotland describes a formula for Davidson's fixative as
<< Industrial Meth Spirit ( 74OP ) 2880 ml
Glacial Acetic Acid 200 ml
Formaldehyde ( 40% ) 200 ml
Distilled Water 720 ml >>
We need a transatlantic translation here - is "industrial meth spirit" in the
UK what is called S3DA denatured alcohol in the USA - ethanol denatured
(rendered unfit for drinking) with 5% methanol, often with a further addition
of 5% isopropanol for histologic use ("S3DA modified")?
Note that this formula does not have the same proportions as what the
literature calls Davidson's fixative - it has much more alcohol.
Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville
Tennessee USA (where, true to our Scots heritage, we make better things to
drink)